“Drunk Diet” Is a Testament to Health and Happiness

May 18, 2012

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There is no world in which the rock and roll lifestyle should provide the basis for a sustainable diet, and when you consider Luc Carl, the wild-haired, spandex-clad author of “The Drunk Diet: How I Lost 40 Pounds…Wasted: A Memoir” you may not be convinced. But this audio book comes with a proviso up front. Carl tells listeners from the get-go that this is not a “how to” guide meant to help others follow in his weight-loss footsteps (yes, he really lost forty pounds and no, he did not give up alcohol in order to do so). He is merely telling his own story and if others somehow benefit from it, so much the better. Much like James Frey’s “A Million Little Pieces” (only without the fabrications), this audio book relates the story of one man facing his harmful life decisions, coming to terms with the fact that he has to make a change, and finding a way to do so that doesn’t compromise his values (or his love of beer).

Let’s just start by saying that this is nothing like your traditional weight-loss diatribe. Carl is not offering a program for those seeking to mimic his success. He is, however, providing ample inspiration to anyone who has found themselves in the untenable position of waking up one morning to discover that seven years have disappeared and forty pounds have replaced them, seemingly overnight. While the drummer from Nebraska was intent on pursuing his big-city dreams of becoming a famous musician, he had to maintain a job as a bartender to pay the bills. And eventually his hard-partying lifestyle (full of late nights and fast food) caught up with him. So he did what anyone in this day and age might do: he went to the doctor.

Of course, like most people, he heard something he didn’t like. No matter how many nutritionists or diet books he consulted, all seemed to say that he had to give up drinking in order to lose weight and get healthy (it didn’t take a masters in health administration to see that one coming). And while there is definitely some merit to the concept of nixing alcohol consumption in order to develop a healthier lifestyle, Carl wanted a solution that wouldn’t force him to give up the things he loved. So the man who took the leap by moving from Omaha to NYC in pursuit of his dreams decided to do what he clearly does best: forge his own path.

He relates his inspiring journey towards fitness, health, and weight loss (on his own terms) in a narrative that is honest, amusing, and surprisingly insightful. Although he refused to give up his favorite pastime (chugging a cold brew), he did change the rest of his life, trading in his standard, take-out fare for fresh, natural foods and working his way up to a regular exercise routine. And his message to listeners is fairly clear: if he can do it, anyone can. So although this audio book may not provide you with specific tools for your own weight-loss journey, it can definitely motivate you to take a step in the right direction. At the very least it will get you laughing, and as you may have heard, that’s good for your health.